Income and Work

May 12, 2025 by WVCBP
STUDY: W.Va. is the Second Deadliest State for Workers

WVVA - A recent study has ranked West Virginia near the top in workplace fatalities per capita. Read the full article. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, a national trade union, issued its 34th annual report on the state of safety and health protections for America’s workers. West Virginia is ranked second in…

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April 11, 2025 by Kelly Allen
WV House Passes Bill Exempting 14- and 15-Year Olds From Work Permit Requirement

West Virginia Watch - West Virginia 14- and 15-year-olds seeking employment would no longer be required to have a work permit under a bill approved by the House of Delegates Friday morning. Read the full article. Delegates passed Senate Bill 427 with a 91 to 9 vote. The House’s nine Democrats voted against the bill. There was no discussion…

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March 29, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Trump Funding Cuts Ripple Through Rural America

Reuters - The phone rang over the whine of Trey Yates' butter churn. The person calling was polite, but the message was devastating: Mountaineer Food Bank was ending Yates' butter contract, due to the federal government's funding cuts. Read the full article. The next day, President Donald Trump signed a declaration celebrating National Agriculture Day,…

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March 25, 2025 by Sean O'Leary
Federal Workers are Vital to West Virginia’s Economy

Introduction Elon Musk and the Trump administration are illegally firing federal employees who serve West Virginian veterans, seniors, farmers, and small businesses; keep our food, water, national parks, and workplaces safe; and carry out critical medical research, emergency response, and disaster relief missions. Federal employees and their families are also our neighbors who live, work,…

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March 5, 2025 by Kelly Allen
Gutting the Federal Workforce Won’t Make Government More Efficient

West Virginia Watch, Beckley Register-Herald , Ohio Capital Journal- Two hundred workers were laid off from the Bureau of Fiscal Service in Parkersburg. Thousands from the Department of Veterans Affairs (including at least 10 in West Virginia). And hundreds each from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Caring for our veterans,…

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February 11, 2025 by Sean O'Leary
The $400 Million Projected Deficit: How W.Va. Got Here

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - During his first week in office, Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered a picture of the state’s fiscal health in stark contrast to his predecessor’s projections of strength for the state. Read the full article. “The state will have a projected deficit of approximately $400 million and that number is projected to rise more…

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February 10, 2025 by WVCBP
Business Officials Pilot Consulting, Cost-Share Programs To Address Child Care Shortage

West Virginia Public Broadcasting – In 2023, an estimated 20,000 West Virginia children under age six were unable to receive child care due to capacity issues, according to an August 2024 report from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Read the full article. Will Miller, interim state director for the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC),…

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January 26, 2025 by Sean O'Leary
Gov. Morrisey Sells an Old Story of Cutting Taxes for Economic Growth in West Virginia

Mountain State Spotlight, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Charleston Gazette-Mail - Newly-elected Gov. Patrick Morrisey has launched his “Backyard Brawl” initiative through executive order. He’s promised to improve West Virginia’s economic rankings by outpacing neighboring states.  Read the full article. Through his initiative, Morrisey has vowed to continue cutting the state’s personal income tax. He’s also said his…

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